Medicament containing epidemium extract for treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis

ABSTRACT

This present invention relates to a method for extracting  Epimedium  herb to prepare flavones and polysaccharides combinations in which their ratios vary from 2:8 to 8:2 by weight and applying these extracted compositions in treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Total flavones of the extracts are in the range of 20–90% and the molecular weights of extracted polysaccharides vary from 1,000 to 700,000 Daltons. This invention also includes a method for preparing compounded formulations which contain extracts of Radix Ginseng, pollens, Radix  Astragali , Cortex  Phellodendri, Epimedium  flavones and polysaccharides and administering these compositions directed at treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Clinical study has showed that these extracts and formulations are effective in treatment of prostate illness with no adverse reactions.

TECHNIQUE

Presented in this application are Epimedium herbal compositions and methods that provide a treatment for prostatic hyperplasia. By adjusting the composition of Epimedium flavones and polysaccharides and combining Epimedium extracts with vehicles or extracts from other Chinese medicinal materials enables development of innovative approach in treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.

BACKGROUND

Epimedium Herb is the dried aerial part of Epimedium brevicornum, Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanense or Epimedium koreanum. Its actions are to reinforce the kidney yang, to strengthen the tendons and bones, and to relieve rheumatic condition. It is effective against impotence, seminal emission, weakness of the limbs; rheumatic or rheumatoid arthralgia with numbness and muscle contracture; climacteric hypertension. Epimedium Herb consists of flavones, polysaccharides, flavonolignans and alkaloids. Clinical application and pharmacological study of Epimedium flavones or polysaccharides showed that they are effective in treating cardiovascular diseases, augmenting the immune system, improving sexual satisfaction, treating osteoporosis and resisting aging. However, all these studies have been done only on either flavones or polysaccharides of Herba Epimedium.

INVENTION

This invention provides a technological solution to extract the effective portion of Epimedium herbs. These extracts can be used either alone or with vehicles and/extracts from other Chinese medicinal materials in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. These regimens are safe, effective and suitable for chronic treatment and geriatric uses.

The extraction relates to a method for extracting the following composition:

A pharmaceutical composition of Epimedium extracts comprise flavones and polysaccharides in ratios varied from 2:8 to 8:2 by weight which are used in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Total flavones of the extracts are in the range of 20–90% by weight and the molecular weights of extracted poylsaccharides vary from 1,000 to 700,000 Daltons.

The ratios of flavones and polysaccharides can be adjusted to a range of 3:7 to 6:4 by weight of the composition. Total flavones comprise 10–90% of icariin and icariin I, and the molecular weights of extracted polysaccharides vary from 45,000 to 620,000 Daltons.

The method of extracting Epimedium herb comprises:

Extract Epimedium herb with 60–95% organic solvent. Recover the organic solvent from the filtrate. Add onto the Absorptive Resin (D₁₀₁ or D₁₄₀) Column, and then wash the column with water. Elute the column with 30–85% ethanol and remove the eluent by suction filtration. Collect all the eluent and evaporate to dryness. Total flavones in the residue are about 20–90% by weight.

Decoct the Epimedium residue with water and concentrate the aqueous solution. Add ethanol to a concentration of 70–85% and stand still for a while. Filter to obtain the crude polysaccharides. Dissolve the polysaccharides in water and add chloroform n-butanol mixture (3–6: 1) to precipitate protein debris. Remove any polysaccharides below 1000 Daltons by ultra filtration. Concentrate the aqueous extract to dryness and obtain polysaccharides of molecular weight 1,000 to 700,000 Daltons.

Mix the extracted Epimedium flavones and polysaccharides to obtain combinations in ratios from 2:8 to 8:2 by weight of composition.

Repeat the Epimedium extracting procedure as described with 60–85% organic solvent containing ethanol, propanone, isopropyl alcohol and/or methanol. The ratio of flavones and polysaccharides should fall within a range of 3:7 to 6:4.

Following the Epimedium extraction procedure described, the total flavones extract comprises 10–90% by weight of Epimedium icariin and icariin I. Following the Epimedium polysaccharides extraction protocol, the crude polysaccharides is redissolved in water. Add sufficient quantity of ethanol to make up the final concentration of 70–85%. Stand still for a while and harvest the refined polysaccharides by filtration. The molecular weight of polysaccharides lies within 45,000 to 620,000 Daltons.

The Epimedium flavones and polysaccharides can be combined in ratios of 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4 or 7:3. These combinations can be used alone or with any pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle/excipients.

A pharmaceutical composition of compounded formulations used in treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis comprises radix ginseng, pollens, radix astragali, cortex phellodendri, Epimedium flavones and/or Epimedium polysaccharides.

The composition of these formulations wherein comprise by weight: (1) 1–6 portion of ginseng extract containing 6–10% ginsenoside; (2) 1–8 portion of pollen/pollen extract containing 10–20% flavones; (3) 1–4 portion of radix astragali extract containing 3–5% astragaloside and 20–30% polysaccharides; (4) 1–6 portion of cortex phellodendri extract containing 10–15% berberine; (5) 4–16 portion of Epimedium flavones containing 20–90% flavones and/or Epimedium polysaccharides.

The composition of above formulation wherein comprises 1–2 portion by weight of ginseng extract, 2–4 portions by weight of pollen or pollen extract, 1–2 portion of by weight radix astragali extract, 1–2 portion by weight of cortex phellodendri extract and 5–10 portions by weight of Epimedium flavones and/or Epimedium polysaccharides.

All the discussed formulations can be mixed with any pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle/excipients to formulate various preparations in different dosage forms.

The detail Epimedium extracting procedure is as follow:

Extract Epimedium leaf powder with 60–95% organic solvent 1–4 times and not exceeding 6–10ml/g each time. The total extraction time is 1–3 hours. Filter the extract by a suction filtration and add onto a resin column (D₁₀₁ or D₁₄₀). Wash the resin column with water thoroughly, and then elute the column with 30–85% ethanol. Collect all the eluent, recover ethanol by suction filtration and dry to crude flavones (A). The crude flavones extract (A) contains 20–90% flavones by weight, wherein 10–90% by weight of the flavones are icariin and icariin I.

Decoct the Epimedium residue with water 3 times and not exceeding 6–10 ml/g each time. The total extraction time is 1–2 hours. Collect the solution by suction filtration and then concentrate the extract. Add ethanol to a concentration of 70–85%. Mix the solution thoroughly and stand still for 12–24 hours. Filter to obtain the precipitate. This precipitation procedure can be repeated 3 times if necessary to obtain the reddish brown polysaccharides. Dissolve polysaccharides in 500 ml of water and add 100–200 ml chloroform n-butanol mixture (3–6: 1) to precipitate protein debris. Remove any polysaccharides below 1000 Daltons by ultra filtration.

Concentrate the aqueous extract to complete dryness to obtain refined Epimedium polysaccharides (B) with Molecular Weight of 1,000 to 700,000. The polysaccharides undergo routine testing and two fractions are identified—extracellular polymer substances 1 (EPS-1) and extracellular polymer substances 2 (EPS-2) with their respective molecular weights of 45000 and 620000. The composition of both EPSs is fucose, rhamnose, pentosidine, xylitose, mannitose, glucose and galactose. Furthermore, we have identified four groups of polysaccharides with their respective molecular weights of 3400, 25000, 45000 and 520000.

The Epimedium extracts contain designed portion of crude flavones (A) and refined polysaccharides (B). Experiments demonstrated that the effective ratios of A and B mixtures in treating prostatic hyperplasia are 2:8, 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2.

Clinical research showed that this novel mixing of Epimedium flavones and Epimedium polysaccharides in designed portion is effective in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia with a success rate of 93.8%. This patient group's symptomatic score decreases significantly (P<0.01) and their quality of life improves prominently, which can be seen from the reduced frequency in nocturnal urination and improvement in urine flow. The rate of urine flow increases substantially (P<0.01), which implies a decrease in bladder obstruction. Moreover, the urine retention is decreased (P<0.01). The level of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) decreased after treatment from a value of 3.31±3.68 ug/L (before treatment) to 3.03±3.84 ug/L (after treatment), but this result is not statistically significant.

Clinical research also showed that the formulation of Epimedium extract, pollen or pollen extract, Radix Astragli extract, Cortex Phellodendri extract and ginseng extract is effective in treating patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with chronic prostatitis and its success rate is 75%. This patient group's symptomatic score decreases significantly (P<0.01) and their quality of life improves prominently, which can be seen from the reduced frequency in nocturnal urination and improvement in urine flow. The rate of urine flow increases substantially (P<0.01), which implies a decrease in bladder obstruction. Moreover, the urine retention is decreased (P<0.01). The level of PSA decreases significantly after treatment from a value of 4.41±5.28 ug/L (before treatment) to 1.84±1.07 ug/L (after treatment), with a P value <0.01.

This invention provides a simple procedure to prepare Epimedium extract. The extract contains well-defined active components. Taking advantage of the synergistic effect between flavones and polysaccharides, the success rate in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia can be greatly improved by adjusting the ratio of flavones and polysaccharides in the formulation.

The section below is a summary of Epimedium extraction procedure and its applications in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also, a procedure of preparing compounded formulation of Epimedium extract, ginseng extract, pollen and pollen extract, Radix Astragli extract and Cortex Phellodendri extract and its application in treating prostatic hyperplasia associated with chronic prostatitis are stated as follow.

PRACTICAL CASES

Case 1 Determine the Content of Flavones and Polysaccharides in Different Species of Epimedium Herbs.

Epimedium Herb is the dried aerial part of Epimedium brevicornum, Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanense or Epimedium koreanum. The herb is collected from Shanxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou and Liaoning provinces. Total flavones are determined by UV spectrophotometry; icariin and icariin I are assayed by high performance liquid chromatography and polysaccharides are assayed by phenol-sulfuric acid method.

The results of these assays showed that the contents of total flavones and total polysaccharides content are 6–20% and 13–26%, respectively.

Content (%) Name of Poly- species Sources Icariin Icariin | Flavones saccharides Epimedium Shanxi 1.193 0.445 12.3 20.7 brevicornum Sichuan 1.088 0.794 11.6 19.0 Epimedium Hunan 0.961 0.190 7.2 15.9 sagittatum Hubei 0.735 0.110 6.4 13.4 Guizhou 3.098 0.084 18.3 26.1 Epimedium Sichuan 3.343 0.094 20.1 25.6 wushanense Guizhou 2.882 0.030 8.9 20.1 Epimedium Sichuan 1.140 0.067 10.2 18.6 pubescens Epimedium Liaoning 0.890 0.104 16.9 22.5 koreanum Case 2 Extraction of Epimedium Species

Extract 500 g Epimedium brevicornum (Shanxi) with 3 liters of 60% ethanol 3 times at 60° C. The extraction time is 2 hours. Filter the extract by suction filtration, recover ethanol from the eluent and add onto a resin column (D101 or D140 column, 1000 g wet weight). Wash the resin with 3 L water, and then elute with 30–85% ethanol. Recover the ethanol by suction method and evaporate to dryness. The dry weight of extract (A) is about 20 g and contains 45.8% flavones, which are predominately icariin and icariin I. The total yield is about 3%. Decoct herbal residue with 3 L water for 50 minutes and extract 3 times. Filter the aqueous solution. Concentrate the aqueous solution to 1 L and filter again. Add 95% ethanol to the concentrated extract and make up with sufficient ethanol to obtain a concentration of 75%. Mix thoroughly and stand still for 12 hour. Recover the precipitate by filtration. Dissolve the precipitate in water and precipitate with 75% ethanol again. Repeat this precipitation once more. A reddish brown polysaccharide (56 g) is obtained. Dissolve the polysaccharides in 500 ml water and mix with 100 ml chloroform n-butanol mixture (5:1). Sonicate to remove protein debris. Exclude particle with molecular weight less than 1000 Daltons by ultra filtration. Concentrate the extract and evaporate to dryness to obtain Epimedium polysaccharide of 36.5 g (B). The molecular weights of these polysaccharides should be in the range of 1000 to 700,000. The polysaccharides undergo routine testing and two fractions are identified—extracellular polymer substances 1 (EPS-1) and extracellular polymer substances 2 (EPS-2) with their respective molecular weights of 45000 and 620000. The composition of both EPSs is fucose, rhamnose, pentosidine, xylitose, mannitose, glucose and galactose. Furthermore, we have identified four groups of polysaccharides with their respective molecular weights of 3400, 25000, 45000 and 520000.

The Epimedium extracts compose of mixing A and B in the following proportions as 2:8, 3:7, 4:6 5:5, 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2.

Epimedium extracts are prepared from the dried aerial part of Epimedium brevicomum, Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanense or Epimedium koreanum 500g of herb to be extracted in accordance with the method mentioned above. The content of flavones is about 20–90% by weight The yield of each species is as follow:

Name Origin Yield of A Yield of B Epimedium Shanxi 20 g, 4% 37 g, 7.4% brevicornum Sichuan 10 g, 3% 29 g, 5.8% Epimedium Hunan 12 g, 2.4% 20 g, 4.0% sagittatum Hubei  8 g, 1.6% 30 g, 6.0% Guizhou 27 g, 5.8% 39 g, 7.8% Epimedium Sichuan 23 g, 4.6% 42 g, 8.4% wushanense Guizhou 16 g, 3.2% 32 g, 6.4% Epimedium Sichuan  9 g, 1.8% 25 g, 5.0% pubescens Epimedium Liaoning 18 g, 3.6% 28 g, 5.6% koreanum Case 3 Preparation of Compounded Formulation Containing Epimedium Extract with Ginseng, Pollen, Radix Astragli and Cortex Phellodendri

This compounded formulation is composed of five herbal extract:

The ratio of extract of Epimedium extract (Flavones 40%, icariin 20%, polysaccharides 40%): ginseng extract (ginsenoside 6–10%): Pollen or pollen extract (flavones 10–20%): Radix Astragli extract (Astragloside>3–5%, Radix Astragli polysaccharides 20–30%): Cortex Phellodendri extract (berberine 10–15%) is 5:1:2:1:1.

The Epimedium extract is prepared according to the method described in Case 2.

The ginseng extract (ginsenoside 6–10%) is prepared as follow: Extract 500 g of ginseng powder with 1–2 L 70% ethanol. Heat and reflux 2–3 times. Recover the ethanol extract by suction method. Filter and evaporate the filtrate to dryness to obtain 160 g of ginseng dry extract.

The pollen or pollen extract (flavones 10–20%) is prepared as follow: Extract 500 g of pollen with 1–2 L 75% ethanol. Heat and reflux 2–3 times. Recover the ethanol by suction method. Filter and evaporate the filtrate to dryness to obtain 126 g of pollen dry extract.

The Radix Astragli extract (Astragloside>3–5%, Radix Astragli polysaccharides 20–30%) is prepared as follow:

Extract 500 g Radix Astragli powder with 2–4 L 75% ethanol. Heat and reflux 2–3 times. Recover the ethanol under reduced pressure. Add the filtrate onto a resin column (D₁₀₁, 1 kg) and wash the resin with water. Elute the resin with 30–85% ethanol. Concentrate and evaporate to dryness to obtain 67 g dry extract (Radix Astragli saponin 4.7%). Decoct the Radix Astragli residue with 1 L water for 3 times. Filter the extract and concentrate to 1 L. Add ethanol to make up a final concentration of 75–85% ethanol. Recover the precipitate, polysaccharide extract. Mix the saponin and polysaccharide in a radio of 3:7 to obtain Radix Astragli extract.

The Cortex Phellodendri extract (berberine 10–15%) is prepared as follow:

Extract 500 g Cortex Phellodendri powder with 1–2 L 75% ethanol. Heat and reflux 2–3 times. Recover the ethanol under reduced pressure. Filter and evaporate the filtrate to dryness to obtain 96 g Cortex Phellodendri dry extract.

Case 4 Acute Toxicology Study

Epimedium Extract:

40 SD mice (from Kunming) that weighed 20±2 g and were in equal gender number were selected. They were fasted but were free to drink water for 16 hours before the experiment. They were divided into 2 groups (n=20). The first group mice were taken 6 g/kg Epimedium extract I (The A and B ratio of extract is 4:6 and the mixture contains flavones 40%, icariin 10% and polysaccharides 60%.) in single dose. The second group mice were taken 9 g/kg Epimedium extract I in single dose. After treatment, both groups were subjected to 7 days observations that included appetite, movement, faeces, growth and death. In other experiments with the same setting and dose given, we observed the acute toxicity of mice after they were taken Epimedium extract II (The A and B ratio of extract is 6:4 and the mixture contains flavones 40%, icariin 20% and polysaccharides 40%.), Epimedium extract III (The A and B ratio of extract is 7:3 and the mixture contains icariin 60% and polysaccharides 30%.) or the compounded formulation described in Case 3 (Epimedium species, ginseng, pollen, Radix Astragli and Cortex Phellodendri).

The results concluded that oral dose of the LD₅₀ of Epimedium extract I, Epimedium extract II, Epimedium extract III and the compounded formulation could not be determined. Therefore the oral dose of LD₅₀ is greater than 9 g/kg.

Case 5 Results of Clinical Research

-   1. The objectives of clinical research; -   1) Observe the efficacy of Epimedium extract in treatment of benign     prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its adverse effects; -   2) Observe the efficacy of the compounded formulation in Case 3 in     treatment of BPH associated with chronic prostatitis and its adverse     effects; -   2. The criteria of patient selection; -   1) Patients who suffer from BPH and age>50; -   2) Patients who suffer from BPH and prostatitis, and age>30; -   3) Patients who have a symptomatic score≧6, and associates with     abnormal biochemical assays; -   4) Patients who suffer from BPH, erectile dysfunction and early     ejaculations. Patient statistical information:

Number Group of patients Age (Year) Duration of illness (Year) Benign prostatic 32 64.90 ± 7.8  11.5 ± 8.7  hyperplasia* BPH and chronic 24 42.42 ± 12.1 3.5 ± 3.3 prostatitis** *Benign prostatic hyperplasia group is taken Epimedium extract; **BPH and chronic prostatitis group all associated with sexual dysfunction is taken the Epimedium compounded formulation (with ginseng, pollen, Radix Astragli and Cortex Phellodendri) 3. Treatment

Benign prostatic hyperplasia group: Dosage of Epimedium extract (The A and B ratio of extract is 6:4 and the mixture contains flavones 40%, icariin 20% and polysaccharides 40%): 250 mg/cap×3 caps twice daily.

BPH and chronic prostatitis group: Dosage of Compounded formulation described in Case 3: 250 mg/cap×3 caps twice daily.

4. Observation Criteria:

Subjects with an Accumulative Score Higher than 6 are Selected. The Scoring System is Listed as Follow:

Clinical symptomatic scores for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Symptoms 0 1 2 3 Urine Normal Small volume Urine flow Urine flow excretion or linear broken but in droplet still linear and non-linear Abdominal None Urge to Bloating Bloating and symptoms urination pain Time of <40 s 40–50 s 51–60 s >60 s urination Rate of urine >15 ml/s 11–15 ml/s 6–10 ml/s <6 ml/s flow Urine 10 ml 10–50 ml 50–100 ml >100 ml retention Prostatic Normal Hyperplasia I Hyperplasia II Hyperplasia hyperplasia III Note: The stage of benign prostatic hyperplasia, reference: Sex hormone and geriatric illness, the 1^(st) edition. Beijing: Chinese scientific technological Publisher 1998. 171–189 5. Standard of Clinical efficacy

-   Clinically cure: Main symptoms disappear; accumulative score is     reduced more than 90%; biochemical index returns normal. -   Excellent effect: Major symptoms disappear; accumulative score is     reduced by 60–89%; biochemical index basically returns normal. -   Improvement: Major symptoms reduce or disappear; the score is     reduced by 15–59%; biochemical index improves. -   No effect: Major symptoms do not change or even worsen.     6. Observation of Adverse Effects: -   Hematology: Changes in RBC, Hb, WBC and Plt before and after     treatment. -   Urine test: Changes in proteinuria and RBC before and after     treatment. -   Liver function: Changes in ALT and AST before and after treatment. -   Renal function: Changes in BUN and Cr before and after treatment.     7. Statistical Method:

Quantitative data would be shown in a form of X±SD, compared with t-test; Ridit is used for group data processing.

8. Results:

-   1) Comparison of accumulative clinical symptom scores between BPH     and BPH associated with chronic prostatitis group before and after     treatment are listed in the following table.

TABLE 1 Comparison the accumulative clinical symptom scores between two treatment groups (X ± SD) Score Score Group before treatment after treatment P value BPH 12.16 ± 2.42 6.26 ± 1.98 P < 0.01 BPH associated with 10.42 ± 2.54 4.88 ± 2.82 P < 0.01 chronic prostatitis

-   2) Urine retention. The symptom of urine retention in both groups is     significantly reduced after treatment.

TABLE 2 Comparison of urine retention between two treatment groups (unit: ml, X ± SD) Volume Volume Group before treatment after treatment P value BPH 65.93 ± 60.19 37.19 ± 43.05 P < 0.05 BPH associated with 45.83 ± 53.48 25.41 ± 34.38 P < 0.05 chronic prostatitis

-   3) Urine flow rate. The rate of urine flow in both groups is     significantly increased after treatment.

TABLE 3 Comparison of urine flow rate between two treatment groups (unit: ml/s, X ± SD) Flow rate before Flow rate after Group treatment treatment P value BPH 4.41 ± 1.44  7.74 ± 3.33 P < 0.01 BPH associated with 7.02 ± 3.29 10.91 ± 5.46 P < 0.01 chronic prostatitis

-   4) Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) assay. BPH associated with     chronic prostatitis group showed a significant decrease in PSA.

TABLE 4 Comparison of PSA level between two treatment groups (unit: ug/L, X ± SD) PSA Group before treatment PSA after treatment P value BPH 3.31 ± 3.68 3.03 ± 3.84 P > 0.05 BPH associated with 4.41 ± 5.28 1.84 ± 1.07 P < 0.01 chronic prostatitis

-   5) The overall effectiveness of treatment between benign prostatic     hyperplasia group and benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with     chronic prostatitis group.

TABLE 5 Comparison of overall efficacy between two treatment groups BPH associated with Group BPH chronic prostatitis Number of patient 32 24 Clinically cure 2 1 Excellent effect 12 6 Improvement 16 11 No effect 2 6 Total effective patients 30 18 Total effective rate 93.8% 75.0%

Ridit is used for data analysis between two groups. The result is P<0.05, which can be shown that towards BPH group improved more significant than that of BPH associated with chronic prostatitis.

The overall review in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in BPH and BPH associated with chronic prostatitis group: Patients in both groups were taken the compounded formulation described in Case 3 with regimen of 250 mg/cap×3 caps twice daily. The overall improvement was 28.6% in patients suffered from erectile dysfunction and 50% in patients suffered from early ejaculation.

This clinical study showed that Epimedium extract is effective in BPH with a success rate of 93.8%. This patient group's symptomatic score decreases significantly (P<0.01) and their quality of life improves prominently, which can be seen from the reduced frequency in nocturnal urination and improvement in urine flow. The rate of urine flow increases substantially (P<0.01), which implies a decrease in bladder obstruction. Moreover, the urine retention is decreased (P<0.01). The level of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) decreased after treatment from a value of 3.31±3.68 ug/L (before treatment) to 3.03±3.84 ug/L (after treatment), but this result is not statistically significant.

This clinical study also showed that the formulation of Epimedium extract, pollen or pollen extract, Radix Astragli extract, Cortex Phellodendri extract and ginseng extract is effective in treating patients with BPH associated with chronic prostatitis and its success rate is 75%. This patient group's symptomatic score decreases significantly (P<0.01) and their quality of life improves prominently, which can be seen from the reduced frequency in nocturnal urination and improvement in urine flow. The rate of urine flow increases substantially (P<0.01), which implies a decrease in bladder obstruction. Moreover, the urine retention is decreased (P<0.01). The level of PSA decreases significantly after treatment from a value of 4.41±5.28 ug/L (before treatment) to 1.84±1.07 ug/L (after treatment), with a P value<0.01. The rates of improvement in symptoms of erectile dysfunction and early ejaculation were 28.6% and 50.0%, respectively.

In this clinical study, patients experience no adverse effects. The hematological test, liver function, renal function and urine test are normal before and after treatment.

The Epimedium extract contains well-defined active components. This invention provides a simple procedure to prepare Epimedium extract, which is suitable for industrial manufacturing. Moreover, Epimedium extract is demonstrated clinically effective in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. 

1. A composition comprising an Epimedium extract for use in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia wherein the extract preparation comprises a flavones extract and polysaccharides in a ratio of from 2:8 to 8:2 by weight, respectively, of the composition, wherein flavones of the crude flavones of the extract range from 20% to 90% by weight, and the molecular weight of the extract polysaccharides ranges from 1,000 to 700,000 Daltons and wherein the composition is free of polysaccharides having a molecular weight below 1,000 Daltons.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the flavones extract to the polysaccharides is from about 3:7 to 6:4 by weight of the composition, and wherein the flavones comprise 10% to 90% by weight of icariin and icariin I, and the molecular weight of the extract polysaccharides ranges from 45,000 to 620,000 Daltons.
 3. A method of Epimedium herb extraction comprising the steps of: extracting the Epimedium herb with a solution containing 60% to 95% by volume of an organic solvent, filtering the extract to obtain a filtrate, recovering the organic solvent from the filtrate, adding the recovered organic solvent containing the extracted Epimedium herb to an absorption column, subsequently washing the column with water, eluting the column with 30–85% ethanol by volume and recovering the eluent by suction filtration, collecting all the eluent and evaporating to dryness and obtaining a flavones residue, wherein flavones in the extract flavones residue are about 20% to 90% by weight, decocting a polysaccharide residue from the column with water and concentrating the decoction, adding a sufficient quantity of ethanol to obtain a final with of concentration of 70% to 85% by volume based on the total volume of the polysaccharides residue, water, and ethanol, filtering to obtain crude polysaccharides, dissolving the crude polysaccharides in water and adding chloroform n-butanol (3–6:1) to precipitate protein debris, removing any polysaccharides having a molecular weight below 1000 Daltons by ultra filtration, concentrating the aqueous extract to dryness and obtaining polysaccharides having a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 700,000 Daltons, and mixing the extracted flavones residue and the refined polysaccharides in a ratio of from 2:8 to 8:2 by weight, respectively.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the extract comprises the flavones residue and refined polysaccharides in a ratio from 3:7 to 6:4 by weight and wherein the organic solvent comprises ethanol, propanone, isopropyl alcohol or methanol, or combinations thereof.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the flavones of the extracted flavones residue comprises 10–90% by weight icariin and icariin I, and wherein the molecular weight of the refined polysaccharides ranges from 45,000 to 620,000 Daltons.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the ratio of extracted flavones residue to refined polysaccharides is 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, or 7:3, respectively, and wherein the ratios can be used alone or with any pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle!excipients. 